Bolivia: Upper Rio Paraguay & Rio Guapore basins. Wild fish are seldom seen and are paler.
Maximum Size
5cm (2")
Temperature
22-28°C
Water Parameters
Tank-raised specimens will acclimatise to a wide range of aquarium conditions. pH: 6.0-7.5, dH: up to 18 degrees.
Compatibility
Community
Lighting
No special requirements
Sexual Dimorphism
Mature males have longer dorsal fins, with black edged anal & pectoral fins. Females anal & pectoral fins can have a reddish hue.
Feeding
Flake, granules and frozen foods
Description
Care
Black Phantom Tetras should be kept in shoals of 6 or more fish. The aquarium should be well-planted with rooted and floating plants in order to provide much appreciated shady areas. Occasionally two males may engage in minor squabbles, displaying their wonderful finnage, but no harm will ensue. Perfectly peaceful with other species.
A recent taxonomic study has put this species back into Megalamphodus from Hyphessobrycon.
Feeding
Will accept most aquarium fare offered, including flake, micropellets and small frozen foods such as daphnia.
Breeding
A separate breeding tank should be set up with soft water and plenty of floating plant cover. The pH should be below 6.0 botanicals placed in the filter can be useful for this purpose. After an elaborate courtship display, the female will release up to 300 eggs. The adults should be removed immediately to prevent predation.
Where can I buy these aquarium fish?
If you like this species and would like to find out more, we have an enormous range of aquarium fish and invertebrates available to buy in all of our stores across the UK (including freshwater tropical and marine fish).
However, please note that this species may not be available in your chosen store, even if the store specialises in this particular species. This is due to seasonality and stock availability from store-to-store. Please check with your local store about availability of specific species to purchase before making a journey.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
